Influence of static and fluctuating salinity on cadmium uptake and metallothionein expression by the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus (L.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salinity on cadmium (Cd) accumulation and metallothionein (MT) expression in the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus (L.). Adult dogwhelks (shell length: 23.4±1.3 mm) were acclimated to salinity of 33 psu (control), 22 or 11 psu under controlled laboratory conditions (9.5 °C; pH 7.9) for 10 days in a stepwise manner by reducing the salinity by 5.5 psu day⁻¹. Ten treatment groups were used and comprised five salinity regimes (three fixed salinity [33, 22 or 11 psu] and two fluctuating salinity [varied daily between 33 and 22 psu or 33 and 11 psu in a cyclic manner]) at each of two Cd concentrations (control: <0.001 μg Cd l⁻¹ or treatment: 500 μg Cd l⁻¹). After acclimation, groups of 20 dogwhelks were exposed to each of the 10 Cd/salinity combinations. All the control and Cd-exposed dogwhelks exposed to 11 psu were dead within 5 days of exposure due to hypo-osmotic stress. Twenty days after exposure to all other treatments, concentrations of Cd and MTs in the tissues of surviving dogwhelks were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the silver saturation method, respectively. Both Cd accumulation and MT induction in control or Cd-exposed N. lapillus were significantly influenced by changes in salinity, especially at a prolonged and fixed low salinity (22 psu), although such influences of salinity on the concentration of MTs were dependent on the tissue type. The study highlights that salinity should be considered when monitoring trace metals and/or MTs in intertidal molluscs, particularly in estuarine or transplanted biomonitors.     

Acclimation of the intertidal red alga Bangiopsis subsimplex (Stylonematophyceae) to salinity changes

The effect of salinity on growth, photosynthetic performance and osmotic acclimation was investigated in the eulittoral red algal species Bangiopsis subsimplex (Stylonematophyceae). The strain grew in a broad salinity range between 1 and 70 psu showing optimum growth between 10 and 50 psu. The saturation point I_k of the photosynthesis irradiance curves ranged between 153 and 83 μmol photons m^− 2 s^− 1 at all salinities and indicates an adaptation of B. subsimplex to moderate radiation conditions. Adjustments on the photosynthetic level (non-photochemical quenching) were sufficient to prevent damage to the photosynthetic apparatus as F_v/F_m values were constantly high (> 0.7) even when grown at the most hypo- and hypersaline conditions. As main low molecular weight carbohydrates, B. subsimplex contains the heteroside digeneaside and the polyol sorbitol. Digeneaside concentration was low and almost unchanged after hypersaline treatment (< 20 μmol g^− 1 DW), i.e. it did not play a role in osmotic acclimation. By contrast, sorbitol levels increased linearly from 150 to 380 μmol g^− 1 DW with increasing salinities between 5 and 60 psu, indicating its important function as an osmolyte and compatible solute under hypersaline conditions. The data presented are consistent with the natural habitat of B. subsimplex, i.e. the upper eulittoral zone.     

Salinity induced changes in haemolymph osmolality and total metabolic rate of the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii Gould, 1841 from Baltic coastal waters

The specific metabolic rate (SMR) and haemolymph osmolality (HO) of the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii Gould, 1841 from Baltic brackish waters were measured at a habitat salinity of 7 psu (T = 15 °C, full air saturation) and after step-wise acclimation to a salinity range of 3-27 psu. Values of SMR at 7 psu varied between 0.40 and 3.89 J g^− 1 WW h^− 1 (n = 25, wet weight range 0.051-1.142 g) and were significantly (p < 0.05) related to the specimen's wet weight (WW) according to the power regression SMR = 0.94 WW^− 0.41 (R² = 0.68). The SMR of females did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) from those of males. When exposed to higher salinities, the SMR of R. harrisii decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and reached a minimum value at 23 psu (0.55 ± 0.05 J g^− 1 WW h^− 1, n = 6). Mean haemolymph osmolality at 7 psu amounted to 581 ± 26 mOsm kg^− 1 (n = 5) and was 2.9 times higher than that of the external medium. R. harrisii hyperosmoregulated its body fluids up to 24 psu (727 mOsm kg^− 1) at which salinity the isosmotic point was reached.     

Embryonic encapsulation and maternal incubation: Requirements for survival of the early stages of the estuarine gastropod Crepipatella dilatata

During their reproductive period, females of Crepipatella dilatata deposit their embryos in capsules that they then brood in the pallial cavity until juveniles emerge several weeks later, after passing through a transient veliger “larval” stage. Artificially excapsulated veligers of this species experimentally exposed to a wide range of salinities (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 psu) for six hours showed reduced activity at salinities of 15 and 20 psu, whereas encapsulated veligers exposed to those same salinities showed no reduction of activity. Artificially excapsulated veligers showed high mortality at salinities of 5 and 10 psu; encapsulated embryonic stages also showed high mortalities at 5 psu and serious sublethal effects at 10 psu in tests excluding maternal protection, showing that encapsulation alone does not provide complete protection from low salinity stress. Natural tidal cycles in the Quempillén River estuary also reduced embryonic survival at salinities of ≤ 10 psu when the capsules were exposed without maternal protection. In contrast, encapsulated embryos protected by their mothers survived well regardless of the salinity to which they were exposed, under both natural and laboratory-simulated estuarine tidal cycles. C. dilatata are able to develop in the estuary only because of maternal protection, since salinity levels in this environment sometimes decline to as low as 7 psu. Successful embryonic development in this estuary reflects the capacity of C. dilatata adults to detect dangerously low salinity levels and then seal themselves off from the environment for up to 50 hrs (O. Chaparro pers. obs.) when the salinity drops below 22.5 psu, allowing salinity to remain above this level within the pallial cavity despite continued salinity declines in the surrounding seawater.     

Does scope for growth change as a result of salinity stress in the amphipod Gammarus oceanicus?

Physiological performance (feeding, metabolism, growth and excretion) across a broad range of salinity (5-30 psu) were determined for the benthic amphipod Gammarus oceanicus, a species of marine origin inhabiting brackish waters of the southern Baltic Sea. Feeding rates decreased with increasing salinity, whereas the nutritive absorption efficiency increased. Faeces production and ammonia excretion rates decreased strongly from the lowest to the highest salinity by 60% and 58%, respectively. Increasing salinity was accompanied by a reduction in the metabolic rate from 438 J g^− 1 dry wt d^− 1 (5.1 mW g^− 1) at 5 psu to 245 J g^− 1 (2.8 mW g^− 1) at 30 psu. Individuals were able to maintain a positive energy balance at all experimental salinities. The greatest values for scope for growth were recorded at the environmental salinity (7 psu) with a mean of 769 J g^− 1 dry wt d^− 1 (8.7 mW g^− 1).     

Temperature and salinity effects on post-marsupial growth of Neomysis integer (Crustacea: Mysidacea)

There has been an increasing interest in using the brackish water mysid Neomysis integer as a toxicological test species for Western European estuarine systems. In this respect, more data on growth, moulting and development in this species is needed. The influence of prevailing environmental variables (e.g. temperature, salinity) and age on these processes as well as their optimal range have to be known in order to develop optimal laboratory cultures and to differentiate between chemically induced variability and natural variability in toxicity testing. Individual post-marsupial growth (size, intermoult period, growth factor) was studied from first day neonates until adulthood at eight environmentally relevant temperature-salinity conditions. Three salinities (5, 15 and 30 psu) were tested at 15 and 20 °C, and two more extreme temperatures (8 and 25 °C) were tested at a salinity of 5 psu.Survival and growth of N. integer were detected within the whole range tested, but sexual maturation was only possible in the narrower range of 15-25 °C and 5-15 psu. The size at maturity of N. integer increased with decreasing temperature and increasing salinity. Salinity seems to have a stronger effect than temperature on the duration of maturation. The sigmoid von Bertalanffy growth model was fitted to the individual and pooled data, except for the 8 °C experiment where growth was linear. Estimates from pooled data were comparable with individually based estimates, but generally underestimated the asymptotic length. Temperature was negatively correlated with the asymptotic length and positively correlated with the growth constant K. Higher temperatures caused smaller intermoult periods but had no effect on the growth increment, while salinity effects were less straightforward and dependent on the water temperature. A tool is provided to estimate the age, moult number, intermoult period, growth factor and growth rate from the body standard length of N. integer. Experimentally derived von Bertalanffy parameter estimates resulted in a higher growth performance index compared with field-based estimates for the Schelde estuary and Galgenweel populations of N. integer.     

Salinity tolerance of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. from Gujarat coasts of India

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the effects of soil salinity on emergence, growth, water status, proline content and mineral accumulation of seedlings of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. NaCl was added to the soil and salinity was maintained at 0.2, 2.5, 5.1, 7.7, 10.3, 12.6, 15.4, 17.9, 20.5, 23.0, 25.6 and 28.2 psu. A negative relationship between seedling emergence and salt concentration was obtained. Nevertheless, this mangrove is highly salt tolerant during germination. Growth of seedlings was significantly promoted by low salinity and optimum growth was obtained at 15.4 psu. Higher salinities inhibited plant growth. Growth and dry matter accumulation in tissues followed the same optimum curve. Water potential of tissues became significantly more negative with increasing salinity, and proline content significantly increased. Moreover, water potential and proline content of tissues displayed an S-curve with the inflection point below ∼10 psu. The concentration of Na in tissues increased significantly, whereas K, Ca, Mg, N and P content decreased.     

Fasciola gigantica: Cercarial shedding pattern from Lymnaea natalensis after long-term exposure to cadmium at different temperatures

Little is known about the response of Fasciola spp., inside its snail host to pollutant toxicity. The effect of long-term exposure of Lymnaea natalensis to 0.1 μg/l, 10 μg/l, or 100 μg/l cadmium (Cd) on the infection rates with F. gigantica, percentage of cercariae-shedding snails and cercariae shedding pattern was investigated. The snails were exposed to Cd for 7 days either pre-infection with single Fasciola miracidium or during the late pre-patent period of the infection. The possible interaction between metal exposure and acclimatization temperature was also studied in three ranges; 16-18 °C, 23-25 °C and 30-32 °C. Results clearly showed that host exposure to 100 μg/l Cd significantly affected the pattern of Fasciola development inside its snail host, and that the acclimatization temperature was a key factor affecting the role played by Cd. Pre-infection exposure to Cd caused a significant reduction in the infection rates where the effect was temperature-dependent. Post-infection exposure to Cd significantly increased the percentage of cercariae-shedding snails; the effect was temperature-independent. Interestingly, post-infection exposure significantly altered the differential cercarial output pattern, while no clear impact on the total was found. The alteration in the differential cercarial output was represented as a significantly higher proportion of floating metacercaria as compared to fixed ones and also higher proportion of dead cercariae which may directly reduce the transmission of Fasciola to the final host. The mechanisms of cadmium impact are briefly discussed.     

Salinities, not diets, affect strontium/calcium ratios in otoliths of Anguilla japonica

Although otolith Strontium (Sr)/calcium (Ca) ratios have been widely used to reconstruct the past salinity environmental history of anguillid eels, factors affecting the Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths are incompletely understood. Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica) elvers (mean length 54.7 ± 2.1 mm) were collected in the estuary during their upstream migration and reared at 5 different salinities (0, 5, 15, 25, and 35 psu) and 3 types of feeding conditions (formulated feed, tubifex, and starvation) for 30 days to evaluate the effects of salinity and diets on otolith Sr/Ca ratios. Ca and Sr concentrations in the ambient water significantly increased with salinity (SAL) as [Ca] _water = 15.50SAL − 5.56, and [Sr] _water = 0.21SAL + 0.03, respectively. Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths increased with salinity (SAL) of the rearing water as [(Sr/Ca) × 1000] _otolith = 0.091SAL + 3.790. In diets, Sr/Ca ratios were 4 times higher in tubifex than in formulated feed. However, in otoliths, ANOVA indicated that Sr/Ca ratios did not differ significantly between groups fed on tubifex or formulated feed (p = 0.118). Otolith Sr/Ca ratios were negatively correlated with fish growth rates while the growth rates differed significantly among rearing conditions with different salinities and diets. Partition coefficients of the Sr/Ca ratios from ambient water to fish tissues and otoliths significantly increased with salinity. The Sr/Ca ratios of Japanese Eel otoliths thus were positively correlated with the ambient salinity and decreased with increasing fish growth rate, but was not affected by fish diet.     

Effects of temperature, salinity, and irradiance on the growth of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea

The effects of temperature, salinity, and irradiance on the growth of the dinoflagellate Akashiwo sanguinea were examined in the laboratory. The irradiance at the light compensation point (I₀) was 14.40 μmol m^− 2 s^− 1 and the irradiance at growth saturation (I_s) was 114 μmol m^− 2 s^− 1. We exposed A. sanguinea to 48 combinations of temperature (5-30 °C) and salinity (5-40) under saturating irradiance; it exhibited its maximum growth rate of 1.13 divisions/day at a combination of 25 °C and salinity of 20. A. sanguinea was able to grow at temperatures from 10 to 30 °C and salinities from 10 to 40. This study revealed that A. sanguinea was a eurythermal and euryhaline organism; in Japan it should have formed blooms in early summer, when salinity was relatively low. In addition, it was noteworthy that A. sanguinea had markedly cold-durability, retaining the motile form of vegetative cells for more than 50 days at 5 °C and at salinities of 25-30.     

Combined effect of temperature and salinity on the Thermotolerance and osmotic pressure of juvenile white shrimp litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

Thermotolerance (CTMax) was determined in L. vannamei in three salinities and five acclimation temperatures 20, 23, 26, 29 and 32 °C. In white shrimp, the CTMax was not significantly affected by salinity (P>0.05). A direct relationship was obtained between CTMax and acclimation temperature. The end point of the CTMax in L. vannamei exposed to different combinations of temperature and salinity was defined as the loss of the righting response (LRR). The acclimation response ratio (ARR) for the juveniles of white shrimp ranged from 0.42 to 0.49; values in agreement with other crustaceans from tropical and sub tropical climates. The osmotic pressure of the hemolymph was measured in control organisms and in organisms exposed to CTMax; significant differences were found in organisms maintained in 10 and 40 psu, but there were no significant differences in hemolymph osmotic pressure in those that were acclimated to 26 psu.     

Interacting effects of temperature and salinity on Bonamia sp. parasitism in the Asian oyster Crassostrea ariakensis

The proposition to introduce the Asian oyster Crassostrea ariakensis to the mid-Atlantic region of the USA is being considered with caution, particularly after the discovery of a novel microcell haplosporidian parasite, Bonamia sp., in North Carolina. Although this parasite was found to be pathogenic in C. ariakensis under warm euhaline conditions, its persistence in C. ariakensis exposed to various temperature and salinity combinations remained unresolved. In this laboratory experiment, we tested the influence of temperature in combination with a wide range of salinities (10, 20 and 30 psu) on Bonamia sp. Temperature was either changed from warm (>20 °C) to cold (6 °C for 6 weeks) and back to warm or maintained constant and warm. Warm temperature was associated with higher host mortality than cold temperature, suggesting that temperature influenced Bonamia sp. pathogenicity. The effect of salinity was revealed under warm temperature with highest mortality levels observed in infected C. ariakensis exposed to 30 psu. When temperature was increased following low-temperature exposure, Bonamia sp. was not detected; however sub-optimal experimental conditions may have contributed to this result, making it difficult to draw conclusions regarding the reemergence of the parasite after low-temperature exposure. Although the overwintering of Bonamia sp. in C. ariakensis will need to be further investigated, the results presented here suggest that Bonamia sp. may be able to persist in C. ariakensis under a combination of low temperature and meso- to euhaline salinities.     

Environmental influences on the formation and germination of hibernacula in the brackish-water bryozoan Victorella pavida Saville Kent, 1870 (Ctenostomata: Victorellidae)

Brackish-water and fresh-water bryozoans produce asexually derived dormant propagules that allow survival of unfavourable conditions and provide a potential means of dispersal. The propagules of brackish-water ctenostome bryozoans are called hibernacula. We monitored the life-cycle of the brackish-water ctenostome Victorella pavida Saville Kent, 1870 in its natural habitat and investigated, in laboratory cultures, the influence of temperature and salinity on the production and germination of hibernacula and on subsequent colony growth. V. pavida is a protected species in the UK, where its only locality is at Swanpool lagoon, Falmouth. Colonies were collected from Swanpool monthly from January 2004 to January 2005. Hibernaculum germination appeared to be triggered by increased water temperature (c. 13 °C) in the lagoon in March and April. In culture, germination was triggered by transfer from 5 °C to 19 °C in a range of salinities; subsequent colony growth was affected by salinity, with strongest growth at 13, 18 and 36 psu, and reduced growth at 5 and 9 psu. At 3.5 psu, hibernacula germinated, but there was no further development. At 36 psu there was an initial lag in growth, but after 30 d the colonies were comparable with those kept at 18 psu. Hibernaculum formation by colonies occurred from June to October, with production increasing towards October. Hibernacula appear not to have long-term viability but merely to permit survival from one year to the next. The results suggest that any changes in the hydrographic regime at Swanpool could have significant consequences for the survival of V. pavida.     

Effects of temperature and salinity on the standard metabolic rate (SMR) of the caridean shrimp Palaemon peringueyi

The standard metabolic rate (SMR) of the caridean shrimp Palaemon peringueyi to changes in temperature (15-30 °C), salinity (0-45‰) and a combination thereof was investigated. The rate of oxygen consumption of the shrimp was determined using a YSI oxygen meter. At a constant salinity of 35‰ the respiration rate of P. peringueyi increased with an increase in temperature and ranged between 0.260 and 0.982 μl O₂ mg wwt^− 1 h^− 1. The Q₁₀ value over the temperature range 15-25 °C was estimated at 3.13. At a constant temperature of 15 °C the respiration rate of P. peringueyi also increased with an increase in salinity and ranged between 0.231 and 0.860 μl O₂ mg wwt^− 1 h^− 1. For combination experiments the absence of any significant difference in the respiration rate of P. peringueyi at the four temperatures over the salinity range 15-35‰ suggests that the shrimp is well adapted to inhabiting environments characterised by variations in salinity and temperature such as those encountered within the middle and lower reaches of permanently open estuaries with substantial freshwater inflow. On the other hand, the total mortality of the shrimp recorded at salinities < 5‰ at all four temperatures suggests that the upper distribution of the shrimp may reflect physiological constraints. Similarly, the increase in the respiration rate of the shrimp at the four temperatures at salinities > 35‰ suggests that the shrimp may experience osmotic stress in freshwater deprived permanently open and intermittently open estuaries where hypersaline conditions may develop.     

Cadmium accumulation in Atriplex halimus subsp. schweinfurthii and its influence on growth,proline, root hydraulic conductivity and nutrient uptake

Atriplex halimus subsp. schweinfurthii is a newly found cadmium (Cd)-hyperaccumulator, but there have been no detailed studies on its physiological responses when Cd is hyperaccumulated. A. halimus was grown in hydroponic conditions to investigate the effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) on growth, water status, leaf chlorophyll concentration, proline and Cd accumulation. Treatments were prepared by adding 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μM CdCl₂ to the nutrient medium. Plant growth was significantly affected at high-Cd treatments. Increased CdCl₂ decreased chlorophyll concentration, transpiration and root hydraulic conductivity (L₀). Hence water flux had only a little effect on the uptake of Cd in A. halimus seedlings. In contrast, proline content increased with increasing CdCl₂ concentration. Plants accumulated substantial amount of Cd in different plant parts (shoot and root). Most of the Cd taken up was retained in roots (606.51 μg g⁻¹DW after 15 d at 400 μM CdCl₂). The addition of Cd in the culture medium affected calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) nutrition in both shoot and root. A. halimus provides a new plant resource for exploring the mechanism of Cd hyperaccumulation and has potential for use in the phytostabilization of Cd-contaminated salt soils.     

Effects of salinity, temperature and individual variability on the reproduction of Eurytemora affinis (Copepoda; Calanoida) from the Seine estuary: A laboratory study

The brackish water copepod Eurytemora affinis is the most abundant copepod species in the low salinity zone (2-15) of the Seine estuary. Despite its ecological importance, little is known about its population dynamics in the Seine. We studied the effects of temperature (10 °C and 15 °C) and salinity (5, 15 and 25) on reproduction under non-limiting food conditions. We used experiments to determine multiple reproductive parameters for E. affinis. In all experiments, we fed E. affinis a mixture of Rhodomonas marina and Isochrysis galbana. Couples of pre-adult females (C5) and adult males were mated until the female extruded a clutch of eggs and then individual females were observed every 6-12 hours until death to determine (a) embryonic development time, (b) inter clutch time and (c) clutch size throughout their adult lifespan. All reproductive parameters were negatively affected by low temperature (10 °C) and by high salinity (25). At 10 °C and a salinity of 25, mortality during the post-embryonic period was extremely high (85%). Differences in all reproductive parameters between salinities 5 and 15 were minimal. From 15 °C to 10 °C mean latency time (time between hatching of eggs and extrusion of new ones) increased from 0.8 to 2.25 days, the mean embryonic development time from 2.2 to 3.2 days and the mean clutch size decreased from 38 to 22 eggs female^- 1. The mean clutch size decreased when females reached a critical age. The hatching success was high (near 95%) under all conditions except at high salinity. Egg production rates showed no significant differences between salinities 5 and 15 and were significantly higher at 15 °C (13 eggs female^- 1 day^- 1 at salinity 5 and 15) than at 10 °C (4 eggs female^- 1 day^- 1). These values at 15 °C were higher compared to those from other populations of E. affinis in estuaries or lakes. The high reproductive potential of E. affinis from the Seine estuary at 15 °C and low salinities explain its high densities in the low salinity zone during spring and early summer.     

Development and mortality of the first naupliar stages of Eurytemora affinis (Copepoda, Calanoida) under different conditions of salinity and temperature

As a prevalent species complex in temperate estuaries and salt marshes of the Northern Hemisphere, populations of Eurytemora affinis that inhabit these environments must be adapted to salinity fluctuations. Some populations have invaded freshwater environments. In this work, we focus on the combined effects of temperature and salinity fluctuations on mortality rates and development time of the first naupliar stages under starvation. Two temperatures (10 and 15 °C) and eight salinities, ranging from 0 to 35 psu are investigated. We show (i) that among all experimental conditions the optimal temperature and salinity for naupliar survival and development are 15 psu and 15 °C, and (ii) that only the most extreme salinities (i.e. 0 and 35 psu) have a negative effect on naupliar survival. Nauplii develop faster and reach a higher developmental stage at 15 than at 10 °C, independent of salinity. The relevance of this metabolic adaptive pattern is discussed in the general framework of in situ behavior, tidal forcing and biogeographic variability, as well as the potential sources of the observed individual variability.     

Inter- and intra-specific differences in euryhalinity determine the spatial distribution of mysids in a temperate European estuary

Mysids are an important component of estuarine hyperbenthos and a major prey item in the food web of many estuaries. Understanding the abiotic and biotic mechanisms determining mysid distributions is therefore important to comprehend the general processes structuring estuarine communities. We carried out field surveys and exposure-survival experiments for three species of mysids, Neomysis integer Leach Mesopodopsis slabberi van Beneden and Rhopalophthalmus tartessicus Vilas-Fernandez, Drake and Sorbe, to link salinity tolerances of different sex and life stages (adults and juveniles) to their spatial distributions within the Guadalquivir estuary, SW Spain. Despite being euryhaline, the three species of mysids were unevenly distributed along the saline gradient, with salinity being the environmental variable which best explained structure changes in the estuarine mysid assemblage. R. tartessicus remained confined to the outer and more marine part of the estuary and showed a higher temporal variation in its salinity-related distribution (position within the salinity gradient). M. slabberi and N. integer displayed wider estuarine distributions but remained associated with intermediate and low salinities, respectively. We found considerable inter- and intra-specific differences in tolerance to sudden salinity changes: N. integer, and juveniles of M. slabberi and R. tartessicus, showed a high tolerance to sudden salinity changes, whereas adults of M. slabberi and R. tartessicus were only tolerant to salinities close to their isosmotic points. For the less euryhaline species M. slabberi and R. tartessicus acclimation to unfavourable salinities decreased survival after exposure to sudden salinity changes. Both location and strength of the salinity gradient were important factors in determining spatial distribution, either directly to avoid osmotic stress and mortality risk (R. tartessicus and M. slabberi) or indirectly to reduce inter-specific mysid competition (N. integer). We suggest inter- and intra-specific euryhalinity differences determine the spatial distribution of mysids and the specific strategies they use to maintain this spatial structure in a highly variable environment.     

Influence of environmental factors on Vallisneria americana seed germination

Over the course of a growing season (April–October) water quality (water temperature, light, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and reproductive phenology (biomass, production of flowering shoots and seed pods, seed bank densities) were quantified in three Vallisneria americana beds in Nanjemoy Creek, MD, a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. Clonal production of V. americana biomass increased at all sites when water temperatures rose above 25 °C. Flowering occurred during peak biomass (August–September) and resulted in the production of up to 16,000 seeds m⁻² at the end of the growing season. However, observed seed bank densities represented <1% of seed production. Laboratory experiments quantified the effects of dissolved oxygen (0.29–8.00 mg l⁻¹), light (0–160 μmol m² s⁻¹), temperature (13–29 °C), salinity (0.1–17.4 psu), sediment composition (3–86% sand; 0.9–8.3% sediment organic content), and burial depth (0.2–10 cm) on V. americana seed germination. Germination of V. americana seeds was enhanced (greater overall germination and shorter time to germination) under oxygenated conditions (8.00 mg l⁻¹), temperatures >22 °C, salinities of <1 psu, and in sediments composed of ≤3% organic content and >40% sand. Light (<160 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and burial depth (0.2–10 cm) had no significant effects on germination. Temperatures most favorable for seed germination (>22 °C) occurred in June, 2 months in the growing season just prior to development of peak vegetative standing stock. Seedlings were therefore at a distinct disadvantage to plants developed from over wintering buds. A lack of viable seed retention and inadequate environmental conditions at critical times in the growing season may be limiting seed germination success and subsequent seedling establishment within V. americana beds in the Chesapeake Bay. However, ungerminated seeds were found to maintain high viability, especially at salinities of 10 psu that can have significant negative effects of shoot growth survival. This suggests that seeds may serve as a source of reproductive material for bed recovery after periods of drought or other stressful conditions in estuarine systems.